Did the rheumatologist check you for fibromyalgia? Sorry to hear you are suffering from so much pain. I find my pain gets worse with these tropical storms/depressions rolling up the coast. We've had significant rainfall this summer.

Best to you,

Marianne

Hi Tammy,
I'm surprised that when you were referred to the rheumatologist that further testing, x-rays, etc., were not done. Is there any history of arthritis in family
members that would indicate a genetic pattern? RA is sometimes very difficult to diagnose. I have severe OA, my symptoms first appeared in my early 20's but was not properly diagnosed until my late 30's. I have symptoms of RA but my blood test and R-factor indicate I do not have it.
When the weather is warm I function well but when the temps fall I hurt everywhere. The worst part is that the arthritis is throughout my spine and
it continues to worsen. Surgery helps to stabilize the problem areas but it
moves on and attacks another area. I am still very active but the OA is taking it's toll on me, my worst fear is the unknown and what is in store for me in the future. Please be your own advocate and be persistant to find the source of your pain and discomfort.
Best of luck to you and keep us all posted here of your findings.
Ranger

thanks for the responses,
marianne yes he did check me for fibromyalgia but said to me at the time that he thought my neck was causing alot of the my problems.
ranger, the rhuematologist did do some blood work which didn't show rhuematoid arthritis and he did an x-ray of my hips.He told me that rhuematoid arthritis can take a very long time to show up in a blood test,since i've seen him i've had x-rays done that showed arthritis in my knees,ankle and my two big toes,But i have the same type of pain all over that i have in those area thats why i'm wondering if some kind of systemic thing.I haven't been back to him in a few years now and have other problems that my doctor is currently working on so i really don't want to say i think i need to go back to the rhuematologist again on top of everything else.

I have been seeing all sorts of specialist for years due to this type of pain. No known causes or reasons for my flare ups and when it rains I want to cry. I love the rain and smell of it but it makes me want to curl up under my comforter and just die. Once the issue with this surgery is over with I am being sent to UVA for a complete study. The doctors are stunned and are at there ends. I have suffered from this same type of pain since my teens and I am now 39. The older I get the hard it is for me to deal with. I can completely relate.
My biggest fear is that there is something hidden that hasn't been found in me. I tend to ignor the pain and work thru it until it lays me up flat on my back.

Best of Luck to you and hopefully they will find an end to this maddness soon.

Hi Tammy.

Sometimes Blood work can come back with high R.A. factor and then 6 months later its not high..can go back and forth for years..
My opinion,My experience..

Hope your feeling better soon..
hugs to all..Patsy

i live where we get just alittle rain but i know i feel worse and want to curl up in bed just like you do.. so that is exactly what i do.. i turn on the electric blanket, get juice and really treat it like the flu. it feels that bad. well, that is only my input on pain and the weather!!(rain) the two go together in my opinion!!! good luck to all! Jenny

I wish i had an answer to all my pain problems but i don't,not yet anyways.I just wish it would all go away.
I wish i knew an excellent doctor who would delve into my situation completely and not stop searching until he figured it all out.But so far no one like that has come into my life.I wish the best for all of you and a pain free day!!!

Hi All!

I have not posted on here for a vey long time. But just dropped by to see how some of my old friends on SH are doing.

Tammy, I am so sorry to hear you are having that kind of pain. It sure does sound like some type of arthritis. And it sounds like the way cold, rainy weather affects me. Pain all over. Warm and rainy, I can take, or even cold and dry, but the combination of cold and rain is awful. It can even throw me into a very bad flare. Unfortunately, fall is normally cold and rainy here in PA. Not yet, but it will be within another month.

I really think it would be wise to go back to the rheumatologist. I know I am a big advocate for them, but mine is the dr you described. She treats all my symptoms, all my pain. Good luck to you, Tammy. And I sure hope you find out what is causing this. Hugs!